It’s National Library Week and Thursday, April 8 is Take Action for Libraries Day.

How can you support the libraries in your life?

Well, one simple thing is to use our resources!

When you–

• use the Library’s databases,
• take advantage of our chat or “contact us” services,
• schedule library instruction sessions,
• collaborate with librarians for assignments or programs,
• use the technology available for checkout (more coming soon!),
• subscribe to our blog and read our posts (hi!),
• listen to our podcast,
• interact with our social media (follow, comment, or like our Facebook and Instagram posts!),
• participate in Crafternoons and the Read Great Things Challenge,
• and check out our DVDS and books (both our “old fashioned” print books and our new ebooks and audiobooks through Dogwood Digital Library),

you’re helping us understand what additional resources we can provide to continue to support you and collect data to justify providing additional services. We’re here to help!

Another thing you can do advocate for funding of public libraries and academic libraries. Public libraries are often the backbone of their community, providing a broad range of services to a huge number of people. Libraries also contribute to student success. When well-thought-out library funding packages come up to vote, consider supporting them. Contact your House representatives and senators in Congress to continue to support IMLS, which is a wonderful resource for grant funding and advocacy and not just for libraries.

The Build America’s Libraries Act (introduced in the Senate in January 2021 and the House in March) would provide funding to update libraries’ capacity to serve their communities, including facilities and technology updates, so read up on it and consider contacting your legislators to encourage them to support it. 

You can also support your local libraries by participating in the awesome activities going on this week during Durham County’s Library Fest, which Durham Tech is a proud supporter.

Want to catch up with some of the presenters? Check out Durham Tech Library’s interviews with illustrator Gordon C. James, artist Volkan Alkanoglu, and author Tayari Jones on our Out Loud in the Library podcast with host Courtney Bippley.